Molly & Lawless John

Starring:Vera Miles, Sam Elliott, Clu Gulager, John Anderson, Cynthia Myers, Charles Pinney, Bob Westmoreland, Melinda Chavaria, Pasqualita Baca, George Le Bow, Dave Burleson, Grady Hill, Dick Bullock, Terry Kingsley-Smith
Director: Gary Nelson
Studio: Unicorn Video
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Very bland
Why all the negative reviews?
Kind of Gray
Gray Matters is Great!
Pretty weak

Gray Matters
Starring: Heather Graham , Thomas Cavanagh , Bridget Moynahan , Molly Shannon , and Alan Cumming
Director: Sue Kramer
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Puccini for Beginners
Loving Annabelle
Catch & Release
Because I Said So (Widescreen Edition)
Music and Lyrics (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000O76ZO4
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Amazon.com

Gray Matters has one of the most adorable casts of any movie in recent years--the combined sweetness of Heather Graham (Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me), Bridget Moynahan (Lord of War), Molly Shannon (Year of the Dog), Thomas Cavanagh (Ed), Alan Cumming (X-Men 2), and Sissy Spacek (Carrie, In the Bedroom) narrowly avoids being diabetes-inducing. Gray (Graham) and her brother Sam (Cavanagh) have been best friends forever--so close that they find it hard to date. Gray pushes Sam into asking out Charlie (Moynahan), but when Sam and Charlie hit it off so well they spontaneously decide to get married, Gray finds herself unexpectedly dismayed... but not as dismayed as she is when, on a girls' night out before the ceremony, she and Charlie share a drunken kiss that sets Gray's body tingling. Gray Matters juggles a lot of emotional issues; the sibling interconnectedness problem doesn't flow smoothly into the coming-out story of the movie's second half. But sprinkled throughout are charming scenes and wonderfully deft moments that make the story's clumsy missteps all the more baffling. There's no question that Graham is a star who just can't seem to find the right vehicle; Gray Matters won't be her breakthrough, but it's further evidence of her significant appeal. --Bret Fetzer

Description

In this hilarious romantic comedy, Gray (Heather Graham) helps her brother (Tom Cavanaugh) find the love of his life. But the night before her brother's wedding, Gray's world is turned upside-down when she discovers that she has feelings for his fiancé (Bridget Moynahan)! With the help of a sarcastic co-worker (Molly Shannon), a sympathetic cab driver (Alan Cumming), and her therapist (Oscar-winner Sissy Spacek), Gray is forced to figure out who she really is.

Customer Reviews:

Very bland.......2007-07-08

The dialogue in this movie sucks. It is either not funny or extremely cliche. It could have turned out so much better with the general plot of the movie but it was a huge turndown for me.

Why all the negative reviews?.......2007-07-02

I had heard a lot of bad things about this movie when it first came out but decided to watch it anyway because of the cast as well as the cute storyline. I wasn't expecting much but I was surprised that I actually ended up really liking it!

So what's to like about this movie? First, the cast contains a lot of eye candy. Some actors/actresses you may recognize are Alan Cummings, Molly Shannon, Bridget Moynahan, Heather Graham, and the wonderful Rachel Shelley. Second, the storyline is really cute. Basically, a woman (Gray) and her brother (Sam) agree to find the perfect partner for each other. Gray finds a woman named Charlie for her brother and Charlie and Sam hit it off right away. Within a few days, the couple is in Las Vegas to get married. When Charlie and Gray kiss the night before the couple's wedding, sparks fly and Gray realizes that she might be gay. I was actually really happy with the way it ended. I personally think that it shed some light on gay relationships and it shows that you truly can't prevent who you fall in love with.

And what's not to like? This movie certainly isn't Oscar-worthy. It's a typical romantic comedy. Don't expect this movie to be earth-shattering. Also, without giving too much away, I'll say that some parts progressed rather quickly and I felt a couple of scenes should have gone into more depth. But as I said above, it's not Oscar-worthy (and I'm sure the writers didn't intend for it to be) so I was ok with this one flaw as the movie was still entertaining.

Forget what you've heard about this movie. Check it out for yourself. Like me, you may be surprised and really enjoy it.

Kind of Gray.......2007-06-29

"Gray Matters"

Kind of Gray

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

I had heard so much hype about "Gray Matters" that I could not wait to see it and it seems now that the hype was totally unjustified. The cast is good and Heather Graham as Gray creates a character that I felt for and really liked. Tom Cavanagh, as Gray's brother, Sam, has charm and is quite funny. Charlie, played by Bridget Moyahan, the object of both Gray's and Sam's affection is good and Alan Cummings is great as Gray's cab driver friend. The other cast member, Sissy Spacek and Molly Shannon are also good but the film is lacking something. I liked the film and I am having a difficult time pinpointing where it went wrong. I think it is probably the idea that there are some gay people who do not realize that they are gay until later on. I mean, I know that some embrace homosexuality late but it doesn't seem to work here.
It is hard to accept that when Gray kissed Charlie that she suddenly realized that she was gay. It seems to be grasping at straws to build a plot. Does someone suddenly realize he is gay or is it a process? What was it that lets Gray know she was suddenly gay? Now the kiss was great and hot but it was not enough.
The film does grab the audience and fills it with hope. The script also deals with social issues such as media, image and sexuality as well as identity--issues that are not dealt with completely in mainstream movies. It does not preach and has an important message (but it is somewhat boring as it meanders from situation to situation). As good of an actress that Heather Graham is, she is not convincing as a lesbian.
What really hurts the movie from reaching a level of greatness is that most of the events are unbelievable. Unless you are Britney Spears you do not rush to Las Vegas to get married after knowing someone for only six days. But there are moments that are genuinely funny and there are moments that are thought provoking.

Gray Matters is Great!.......2007-06-28

Great is all I can say. I have been so bored with every romantic comedy that has come out in the past five years. Finally a movie with heart, soul and originality. The cast is superb, the writing is fantastic and it's a great postcard of New York City. I laughed and I even shed a tear or two! This should have been the comedy of the year. I highly reccomend it. Molly Shannon is also hilarious--some of her funniest acting yet.

Pretty weak.......2007-06-24

Unimaginative plotting yields protracted bridges of tedium riveted together with predictability. Sissy Spacek's therapist, Alan Cumming's sympathetic cab driver, and some truly beautiful New York ambient backdrops were just barely enough to get me through to the end.

This would have been way more cogent in a pre Ellen Degeneres era - but come on that was so last Century!

Average customer rating:

A Classic
What Happened to Product Discription?
A Man for All Seasons
Amazing!
Still one of the greatest!

A Man for All Seasons (Special Edition)
Starring: Paul Scofield , Wendy Hiller , Leo McKern , Robert Shaw , and Orson Welles
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000LPR6GA
Release Date: 2007-02-20

Amazon.com

Robert Bolt's successful play was not considered a hot commercial property by Columbia Pictures--a period piece about a moral issue without a star, without even a love story. Perhaps that's why Columbia left director Fred Zinnemann alone to make A Man for All Seasons, as long as he stuck to a relatively small budget. The results took everyone by surprise, as the talky morality play became a box-office hit and collected the top Oscars for 1966. At the play's heart is the standoff between King Henry VIII (Robert Shaw, in young lion form) and Sir Thomas More (Paul Scofield, in an Oscar-winning performance). Henry wants More's official approval of divorce, but More's strict ethical and religious code will not let him waffle. More's rectitude is a source of exasperation to Cardinal Wolsey (Orson Welles in a cameo), who chides, "If you could just see facts flat on without that horrible moral squint." Zinnemann's approach is all simplicity, and indeed the somewhat prosaic staging doesn't create a great deal of cinematic excitement. But the language is worth savoring, and the ethical politics are debated with all the calm and majesty of an absorbing chess game. --Robert Horton

Amazon.com

Stills from A Man for All Seasons (click for larger image)

Beyond A Man for All Seasons at Amazon.com

More Films By Fred Zinnemann
More Biographies on Film
Utopia by Thomas More

Product Description

In 16th-century England, the corrupt King Henry VIII (Robert Shaw) betrays the Roman Catholic Church to divorce his wife and marry his latest conquest Anne Boleyn (Vanessa Redgrave). Sir Thomas More (Paul Scofield) is then forced to choose between his principles and duty to his heretical king, who has begun executing the treasonous with increasing frequency. The historically profound battle of ideals also involves Cardinal Wolsey (Orson Welles), Thomas Cromwell (Leo McKern), and More's valiant wife (Wendy Hiller).

Customer Reviews:

A Classic.......2007-07-03

With all the junk movies out on the store shelves, I am always relieved and happy to see a classic film re-released on DVD. This is a superb film by any standard! Do yourself a favor and buy it.

What Happened to Product Discription?.......2007-07-02

Could someone who has actually bought, or at least seen this DVD, please explain WHY this is a "SPECIAL EDITION"? I have the first release of "A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS" on DVD, and was wondering what extra's THIS edition has and if it is worth re-buying. Or is there a "PLATINUM" or "COLLECTORS" or "KING HENRY THE 8TH Edition" coming soon? Thanks.

A Man for All Seasons.......2007-06-27

An outstanding adaptation of Robert Bolt's play by "High Noon" director Fred Zinnemann, "Seasons" revisits the ill-fated conflict between Henry VIII and More, building upon the film's central ethical issue: Whether the principled More will sacrifice his life in defense of moral truth. Scofield, in his very first role, won an Oscar for his shaded portrayal of More, Shaw is magnificent playing a fiery young Henry, and cameos by Orson Welles, Susannah York, and Leo McKern round out a sterling cast. A box-office smash in 1966, "Seasons" will resonate with anyone who's ever had a crisis of conscience.

Amazing!.......2007-06-17

If you want to see great acting, SEE THIS!

Still one of the greatest!.......2007-06-11

When I first saw the movie in 1967, I was riveted by the clear, crystalline dialogue of Robert Bolt, uttered with passion and precision by Paul Scofield. The clarity of thought, the elevation of principals above self is awe-inspiring. I rushed out to buy a copy of the script of the play to read the wonderful dialogue, full of bon mots and great ideas. Some of the lines have found a place on the wall of my office.

Whether one characterizes Thomas Moore as a saint, a statesman of unbending principals, or both, his strength of character, intellect, humanity and general goodness shine through with the brightness of a laser.

Average customer rating:

Journey to the Center of the Earth
In the spirit of Jules Verne
My Favorite Adventure Movie of All-Time!!!
Classic film
Journey to the Center of the Earth

Journey to Center of the Earth
Starring: Pat Boone , James Mason , Arlene Dahl , Diane Baker , and Thayer David
Director: Henry Levin
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00007JMD8
Release Date: 2003-03-04

Product Description

The accent is on fun and fantasy in this film version of Jules Verne's classic thriller that stars James Mason, Pat Boone, and Arlene Dahl.

System Requirements:
Starring: James Mason, Ben Wright, Peter Ronson, Alan Napier, Frederick Halliday, Alex Finlayson, Thyer David, Arlene Dahl, Alan Caillou, Mary Brady, Pat Boone, Diane Baker, Robert Adler
Directed By: Henry Levin
Copyright 2003 Twentieth Century Fox.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

James Mason plays Professor Oliver Lindenbrook, a scientist hoping to find the world's core in this 1959 adaptation of the Jules Verne novel. He leads his unusual party on an expedition to the center of the earth, by way of a volcano in Iceland. On the way, they encounter enormous mushrooms and giant prehistoric monsters. Produced by Michael Todd with then-spectacular special effects, the story was modernized to 1950s sensibilities. Mason gives this class, while Arlene Dahl and Diane Baker are the romantic interests. And Pat Boone is more palatable than you might expect as a secondary lead. You can watch this with your children and not be bored, and they will surely love it. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Customer Reviews:

Journey to the Center of the Earth.......2007-07-04

My son was so interested in seeing this movie after seeing the book at a Doctor's office. He has been thrilled with the quality and the story!

In the spirit of Jules Verne.......2007-06-29

Collectively, Verne's novels were called "Les voyages extraordinaires", and this film, whatever licenses have been taken with the source, aspires to that. While the prelude to the journey is too long (we even have to endure Pat Boone croon a tuneless number), once we've plunged into the Earth, the film takes on an air of wonderment.

Cast chemistry contributes in a big way. James Mason, a brooding but stout leader. Pat Boone, surprisingly effective as an eager student (but not so successful as a Scotsman). Arlene Dahl, a ravishingly beautiful damsel who is sage and sane and only distressed when she really really needs to be. Real-life Icelander Peter Ronson, a tall man's man -- who loves his pet duck. Gravelly-voiced American (believe it or not) Thayer David, pure villainy.

While the special effects are often praised, I think much of the credit for the wonder and awe of the film goes to the elaborate sets.

And I doubt that Bernard Herrmann had a better vehicle for his mystical, sonorous music.

Add the final ingredient: a script that mixes fun and excitement with the fantastical.

Blend thoroughly and you have an extraodinary voyage for the teenager in you.

My Favorite Adventure Movie of All-Time!!!.......2007-06-17

I am in my late 20's and I saw this for the first time when I was a young teenager. It captivated my imagination in so many ways and after viewing it repeatedly within the last few years after getting it on DVD I have to say it completely stands the test of time. I wouldn't change a single thing about the characters, actors chosen to play them, the plot, the special effects, anything. It all fits together perfectly, like in the same way Goonies and Ghostbusters did. Plus the soundtrack is phenomenal. Every time I hear an excerpt from it I get sucked back into the movie. It's perfect music for the journey.

The screenplay is excellent. It has the right amount of scientific basis, comedy spots here and there, intelligent lines, logical dialog, and the best possible way of telling a story about a journey to the center of the Earth. I'm no scientist, but I'm pretty sure the center of the earth is molten and extremely hot and not possible to get to. So the story in general cannot actually happen in real life. But that doesn't matter. the story here is presented in the best possible way that it *could* happen if it were a possibility. And presented in a way most people would actually want it to happen.

The reason I love older adventure movies more than newer ones is because they didn't have computer effects to use so they made every thing, which in turn gave it a more tangible quality and made it more real. Most of the special effects completely hold up. The lizards seem real, the ocean scenes and the journey down all seem extremely real.

It's a top notch production all the way through. Every now and then the stars align on a film and it surely did with this one. I wouldn't change a thing about it. I like it even more than "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" which is another Mason classic.

If you haven't seen it then without a doubt get it. It's great for the whole family. Nothing is excessive or would limit any age groups.

Classic film.......2007-05-18

This movie is a classic and should be in the library of any Jules Verne fan!

Journey to the Center of the Earth.......2007-05-13

What a great movie! I saw it on the big screen when I was a kid. I bought the DVD as soon as it came out. Beautiful scenery and some majestic shots. My favorite part is where they find all the crystals. OK, the story line is a little hokie and special effects don't measure up to today's standards but still a really good movie for the whole family. Watch the movie, eat popcorn, don't judge it by today's movies, enjoy. Where else are you going to get to see Pat Boone naked among a herd of sheep?

Average customer rating:

Rubbish
Garbage.
"This, Madame, is Versailles."
It's a movie about a teenager - who happened to be Queen.
Gorgeous yet empty tale of redemption for unredeemable "heroine"

Marie Antoinette
Starring: Kirsten Dunst , Marianne Faithfull , Steve Coogan , Clara Brajman , and Mélodie Berenfeld
Director: Sofia Coppola
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000M06KJ8
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Amazon.com

While much was made of the fact that Marie Antoinette elicited boos at Cannes, the many favorable reviews attracted less attention. Inspired by Antonia Fraser's biography, Sofia Coppola fashions a portrait that's just as dreamy as The Virgin Suicides, her first literary adaptation, and the Oscar-winning Lost in Translation. Set to a soundtrack of post-punk (a conceit that adds more interest than resonance), the teenaged Marie (Kirsten Dunst, quite good) may be shallow, but she's rarely unsympathetic. The story begins in the late-18th century as the Austrian Archduchess agrees to marry Louis-Auguste (Jason Schwartzman). After bidding adieu to her mother, Maria Theresa (Marianne Faithfull), she travels to France, where King Louis XV (Rip Torn) sets the rules--and the list is endless (Judy Davis' Comtesse de Noailles is the primary enforcer). As for the Dauphin, he's just a boy, really, with more interest in his key collection than their marriage bed. Should Marie produce an heir, it might be enough to sustain her--since life is nothing but an endless shopping spree--but clouds gather on the horizon as an impoverished populace rises up against their extravagant leaders. Coppola merely suggests what happens next, although history paints a darker picture. Filmed in and around the Chateau of Versailles, Marie Antoinette is a riot of rustling gowns, sparkling jewels, and Manolo Blahnik-designed shoes. To say that style trumps substance does its maker a disservice, but the look of the thing does leave the deepest impression. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Extras from Marie Antoinette (click for larger image)

Featurette:
On the filming of Marie Antoinette:
high bandwidth

Film Clip:
"The Introduction"
high bandwidth

Film Clip: "The Royal Treatment"
high bandwidth

Stills from Marie Antoinette (click for larger image)

Beyond Marie Antoinette at Amazon.com

The Book, Marie Antoinette: The Journey
More Period Pieces With A Twist
The Films of Kirsten Dunst

Product Description

Academy Award® winner Sofia Coppola directs an electrifying yet intimate re-telling of the turbulent life of history's favorite villainess, Marie Antoinette. Kirsten Dunst portrays the ill-fated child princess who married France's young and indifferent King Louis XVI Jason Schwartzman. Feeling isolated in a royal court rife with scandal and intrigue, Marie Antoinette defied both royalty and commoner by living like a rock star, which served only to seal her fate.

Customer Reviews:

Rubbish.......2007-07-09

I'm not sure how anyone can watch this an say it was a good film. The acting at a incredibuly low standard. You can never forget that you are just basically looking at Kirsten Dunst prancing around in pretty clothes and eating food. She does nothing to make you feel that she is in anyway royality or Austrian because she basically isn't even trying.

The only thing worth watching it for is perhaps the production design which is creative and lavish. Otherwise, there is barely a story and you do not feel that you have learn ANYTHING about the main character by the end of it. Absolute rubbish. If you are curious - definately RENT before you buy.

Garbage........2007-07-07

This was a first for me. 1/2 way through this miserble POS I took the DVD out of my computer and tossed it into the garbage. And I'm not kidding.

"This, Madame, is Versailles.".......2007-07-07

As the movie opens, a marriage has been arranged for 14-year old Maria Antonia (Kirsten Dunst) of Austria and Louis, the Dauphin of France (Jason Schwartzman). She is immediately packed off to the court of Versailles where she is the object of suspicion as a foreigner, and her husband is unable or unwilling to consummate their marriage. Plucky Marie Antoinette manages to quickly adjust to her lavish and pampered lifestyle by indulging in power-shopping and taking a lover. At the age of 19, she is Queen of France, a mother, and totally unaware of the desperate conditions of the poor in Paris.

From the first punk rock tune during the opening credits, I knew this was not going to be a typical historical drama. Indeed, the soundtrack mixes rock songs with a few classical pieces, creating a quirky, surreal atmosphere. If you liked the odd mix of a period story with modern music in the movie "Moulin Rouge," you'll like this one.

On the plus side, it's easy to feel immersed in court life, where all the nobility had to do all day was dress in stunningly gorgeous outfits, gossip about everyone, and see and be seen. The costumes are incredibly opulent and much of the filming was done in and around Versailles, so this is a visual feast, to say the least. I did find it annoying that no mention is ever made of dates and the passage of time (19 years) is vague since the actors don't seem to age. Dunst is horribly miscast as Marie Antoinette. She looks and sounds like a mid-west Girl Scout, using words like, "yeah" and "gonna," and generally looking silly amid the sophisticated surroundings. I give it five stars for the photography and one star for Dunst and the soundtrack, for a score of 3 ***.

It's a movie about a teenager - who happened to be Queen........2007-07-02

It's not perfect, but it's a much better piece of cinema than its critics would have you believe. In fact, what is created here is a deliciously personal movie about a historical figure - made not as an epic, but as an intimate and `in-the-moment' portrayal of a teenager in over her head.
It's the first key to liking this movie - it is a teen-movie. Not for them but about one. such, all we are seeing is how Marie Antoinette must have seen her life. A young teenager put into a political arranged marriage as the Dauphine of France, she has to leave all behind and finds herself in an intolerable situation (an unconsummated marriage - for 7 years!) with no frame of reference. That's the second key to liking it - it is about her removal from a sense of reality - Versaille is geographically, politically, socially and economically isolated from the reality of France, until the tragic end. (a tragic end which the movie stops just before, incidentally).
This lack of a reality touchstone sends the teenager into spirals of excess - and yet Kirsten Dunst finds new depths in portraying her as indulgent, and yet sincere. Petulant yet patient and revelling in luxury, yet loyal regardless of cost. The movie itself has been criticised for having discordant elements - modern (and 80's) music, hand held camera movements, brighter than bright colours - and yet this is highly effective at making this story real, and not a historical document - exactly what Sofia Coppola was trying to achieve. One scene which exemplifies this, is the masked ball - an occasion which should in most period movies would be starchy and elegant - but here is almost like a night club or a rave with pounding soundtrack - and this is precisely the excitement and impression this occasion would have engendered in a spoilt and privileged teenager.
Finally, the other ingredients (an apt turn of phrase since everything looks like candy) that complete the feel of the movie - the set design and the music. The film was given complete access to Versaille, which makes the location vivid and real - and yet in set design the filmmakers have made these places not a museum, but a real vibrant place home to many. And of course all the wonderful bright and pastel shades made so that `everything looks like cake' are terrific to watch. And then the music - apart from the occasional pop song as mentioned before, the music actually evokes various moods - from the lyrical simplicity of rural France, to melancholy similar in tone to the soundtrack of Lost in Translation, through to modern beats - it's a brilliant and imaginative score.
Top marks to Coppola - I preferred this even to Lost in Translation. It certainly won't be to everyones taste and best rented than bought - but it is a uniquely personal movie deserving a viewing so you can make up your own mind.

Gorgeous yet empty tale of redemption for unredeemable "heroine".......2007-07-02

Sophia Coppola's "Marie Antoinette," starring Kirsten Dunst, is a big old piece of cheesecake . . . it looks and tastes delicious, but eating of it too heartily will only make you sleepy and obese. There is little or nothing of resonance in "MA," beyond some spectacular costume and set design.

"MA" begins with our "heroine" as an innocent Austrian teenager, whisked away by geopolitics into a marriage with the Dauphin of France (Jason Schwartzman). And so begins Ms. Coppola's "poor little rich girl" story, where she tries valiantly to redeem Ms. Antoinette and make her an object of sympathy and admiration. Ultimately, that's a dog that just won't hunt.

We see early scenes where the spoiled rich nobility - empty suits and dresses all - smirk behind their gloves at the uncouth Austrian princess while also imposing the most ridiculous set of rules and protocols upon her. Judy Davis exemplifies the silliness of the French court as she sternly instructs Marie to leave her beloved dog at the Austrian border - you can have as many French dogs as you like, my dear! All these scenes pummel us into acknowledging Marie as a sympathetic figure, and yet so far she is nothing more than an undefined teenager.

But soon, Marie adopts the spoiled ways of her French counterparts - she shops endlessly, takes a lover (that seems to be little more than an infatuation than a soulmate), and ignores the plight of her subjects. The fact that Marie lives in the uber-opulence of Versailles (gorgeously shot, as if it could be filmed any other way) undermines any attempt to shore up Marie's sympathetic side. In one shocking scene, Marie is confronted with the troubles of her people - there is a horrible bread shortage. Her response? She makes the less-than-magnificent concession, "Tell the jeweler to stop buying diamonds." Truly, a woman of the people.

Much has been made of the anachronistic '80s soundtrack, and I'll add my own quibble. The movie seems to go about it half-way. Much of the movie comes straight out of Merchant-Ivory, with baroque music and a period feel, but occasionally a Cure tune or other '80s punk band drops in. Coppola could have gone all-out post-modern, like Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet," but this half-measure in unsatisfying.

There are positives in this movie, but it is hard to come down on that side of the scale where the overarching purpose of the film - to redeem one of Europe's most glamorous villains - rings so false. It is also unsettling that Schwartzman is given so little to do - his recent turn in "Shopgirl" shows that "Rushmore" was no fluke. Dunst is beautiful, but her performance does not even match the intensity Madonna brought to Eva Peron in "Evita."

And to top it off, after "Lost in Translation," I had exceedingly high expectations for Coppola's follow-up effort. Perhaps unfairly high, but regardless, they were not met.

Check out this movie if you are a huge fan of costume and set design, but other than that, it's worth a rental, nothing more.

Average customer rating:

Vertigo
Hitchcock at his trippiest.......
Criterion Collection would have done a superior job!
Compelling!
One of Hitchock's best!

Vertigo (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Isabel Analla , Raymond Bailey , Barbara Bel Geddes , Paul Bryar , and Ellen Corby
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 0783226055
Release Date: 1998-03-31

Amazon.com essential video

Although it wasn't a box-office success when originally released in 1958, Vertigo has since taken its deserved place as Alfred Hitchcock's greatest, most spellbinding, most deeply personal achievement. In fact, it consistently ranks among the top 10 movies ever made in the once-a-decade Sight & Sound international critics poll, placing at number 4 in the most recent survey. (Universal Pictures' spectacularly gorgeous 1996 restoration and rerelease of this 1958 Paramount production was a tremendous success with the public, too.) James Stewart plays a retired police detective who is hired by an old friend to follow his wife (a superb Kim Novak, in what becomes a double role), whom he suspects of being possessed by the spirit of a dead madwoman. The detective and the disturbed woman fall ("fall" is indeed the operative word) in love and...well, to give away any more of the story would be criminal. Shot around San Francisco (the Golden Gate Bridge and the Palace of the Legion of Honor are significant locations) and elsewhere in Northern California (the redwoods, Mission San Juan Batista) in rapturous Technicolor, Vertigo is as lovely as it is haunting. --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews:

Vertigo.......2007-06-27

Hitchcock's psychological tingler was not a huge success on release, but understandably has achieved cult status over time. Ambitious, dense and more than slightly twisted, "Vertigo" is both an elaborate puzzler and a meditation on man's basest fears and desires. Though perhaps a trifle old for the part, Stewart brings a barely suppressed desperation to Scotty that resonates, while Novak is ideal in a dual identity role, playing Madonna-like Madeleine, and the garish, earthy Judy, whom Scottie meets later in the saga. Glorious San Francisco locales, and a peerless Bernard Herrmann score complete this winning package from the master of suspense.

Hitchcock at his trippiest..............2007-06-01

VERTIGO remains one of the most thought-provoking films I have ever seen. I still remember my first taste of this film (at least thirteen years ago!). It's safe to say (without exaggeration) that it changed my life and how I view cinematography. Yes, I know that is a tall statement to make about this movie, but it's well-merited. Why? For starters, Alfred Hitchcock's depiction of the medical condition of vertigo (extreme dizziness onset by perceived or actual drops in height--example: standing at the top of a tall staircase and glancing down at the ground floor from where you stand) feels like, both, a deep acid trip (complete with spinning imagery and disorientation), as well as a really extreme look at the effect of this condition on Scotty (James Stewart), a retired policeman, hired by an old friend to follow his beautiful wife (Kim Novak) who believes is possessed by the dead soul of a mad woman. Of course, this woman also has a penchant for ascending to great heights and attempting to jump off of them. This only adds another twist to Scotty's pursuit of the woman.

Alfred Hitchcock always had a flair for bringing the ironic, gothic and darkly comedic all to the foreground, in his films. Cinematography was one way he achieved (and manipulated) these emotions in the stories he wove so eloquently, on screeen. VERTIGO is no exception. What's more, Kim Novak is a very compelling and beautiful actress who stepped out of her more "cheesecake" roles to play the role of Madeleine, a very deeply disturbed (and perhaps, psychologically pursued?) woman with a secret. What's more, I love James Stewart, here. His relationship with Madeleine is conflicted and borders on pseudo-erotic. Of course, I won't divulge more plot details here. I just figured dropping that clue would tease and tantalize you enough to want to see this great film for yourself. I am so glad that it was given the kudos it deserved, with a re-released DVD addition. Great news!!!

Criterion Collection would have done a superior job!.......2007-05-28

This mesmerizing film has been part of our culture for over a half-century. While it has its flaws -- especially in a script that reaches it's climax too early, and tacks on a final twist that is so unsatisfying-- it's a legacy film worth all the praise it has received.

James Stewart and Kim Novak are each remarkable, and the cinematography is perhaps the best of any Hitchcock film. Indeed, so many compelling moments in the film have no dialogue, the camera work is amazing. Bernard Hermann's score is consistently fine, though at times overbearing. The complexities of plot and use of symbols and colors throughout the movie are dazzing.

So why not five stars? Because Universal Home Video screwed up this particular remaster so badly, it interfered with my enjoyment in a BIG way. While the visual transfer is acceptable, the sound remastering is gruesome, with the score blasting several decibels above the voices, with reengineered sound effects produced on a Foley stage, and some critical dialogue marred by rolloff distortion. (Some viewers care about this stuff; others don't.)

Here's the beef. No corporation has the right to re-engineer a film -- especially one of this caliber -- in a way that alters the intent of the fimmaker. If one adds to that the weird balance of score and voice on the DVD, the occasional man-made distorion and trumped-up sound effects -- it's just not right. As for anamorphic widescreen, forget about it. It's not here.

I buy Criterion Collection remasters more than any because they are faithful to the originals, because their extras are meaningful, and because the company simply respects great movies. Their DVDs may cost a little more, but the payoff is worth it. Hopefully, Criterion will secure the rights to this beautiful chiller some day so the next generation can see it the way filmgoers did in the 1950's.

A wonderful psychological thriller poorly transferred and remastered by a company that should have known better.

Compelling!.......2007-04-23

This timeless thriller is one I love to watch often on a Sunday afternoon. One of Alfred Hitchcock's greats! James Stewart plays the police detective Scottie Ferguson who suffers from vertigo when in high places after the accidental death of a police friend during a roof chase. The accidental death is partly Scottie's fault and he bears the mental scars. Before he can recover from one blow, he's given another when duped by a beautiful woman and an old friend who have a sinister plot and a part for Scottie to unwittingly play.

Chrissy K. McVay - Author

One of Hitchock's best!.......2007-04-05

This haunting, mysterious, romantic movie about obsession is amazing every time I watch it. Although Hitchcock didn't originally cast Kim Novak as the source of Jimmy Stewart's affections, he later admitted that she made this movie what it is. The beautiful San Francisco Bay Area is truly a memorable "character" in this fabulous classic.

Average customer rating:

An Uplifting Film
Fabulous!
A good adaptation of the book
The Last Sin Eater
Dark and disjointed

The Last Sin Eater
Starring: Louise Fletcher , Henry Thomas , Liana Liberato , Soren Fulton , and A.J. Buckley
Director: Michael Landon Jr.
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000NVI0DU
Release Date: 2007-05-15

Amazon.com

Part of the new wave of Christian filmmaking, The Last Sin Eater appeals to a broader family audience as well--and perhaps film lovers seeking, simply, more soul in their cinema. The film, directed by Michael Landon Jr., has more than a bit of homage to Little House on the Prairie as its story unfolds through the eyes of its young heroine, Cadi, a Welsh immigrant whose family has settled deep in Appalachia, bringing superstitions and rites from the Old World and melding them with those from the new. Cadi is played by Liana Liberato with gravitas and knowingness that evokes the young Anna Paquin. Cadi's turmoil begins at the deeply disturbing nighttime funeral for her beloved Granny, when a shadowy figure creeps in and chants, "For your earthly sins, woman, I pawn my own soul!" Cadi, warned her own soul would be in peril if she looked upon the sin eater, can't help turn around and lock eyes with the wretched man. And so begins Cadi's own journey of the soul. As tragedy and evil plague the plucky settlement, Cadi is driven to understand her own life and religious choices. "Would I have to live to be Granny's age to be forgiven for my sins?" a bleakly discouraged Cadi wonders in a voiceover. The costumes are sumptuous (perhaps a bit too much so for such a hardscrabble existence in the 1850s), as is the lovely but unforgiving landscape. Cadi's journey is rewarding, yet not at all predictably so. Terrific supporting appearances by Henry Thomas and Louise Fletcher flesh out a very moving tale. Extras include some deleted scenes, and some cool behind-the-scenes footage. --A.T. Hurley

Description

10-year-old Cadi feels responsible for her little sister's death, so she searches out the one man she feels can take away her sin: The Sin Eater. But in her quest for redemption, Cadi uncovers a secret that threatens to divide her family and community in this heartwarming, inspirational tale for the entire family. Based on the novel by best-selling author Francine Rivers.

Customer Reviews:

An Uplifting Film.......2007-07-03

this is a very spiritual and uplifting movie it's a good story about forgivness and faith this movie was excellent.

Fabulous!.......2007-06-29

The only negative reviews I saw were the soul of the book (the darkness of life without a Real sineater) and at times the Welsh dialogue did make it hard to understand. It is an awesome tribute to Ms Rivers book,, very well cast and written. If that didn't make you cry for a world without Christ I wonder if anything would!!OUTSTANDING!

A good adaptation of the book.......2007-06-27

I am a huge fan of Francine Rivers books so when I heard that one of my favorite books was being made into a movie, I was both excited and skeptical. So many times, a story doesn't live up to what the book before it did. But this was an exception. Michael Landon, Jr. did it justice. The feel of the book, kind of a dark, mystical existance for these people came through on screen to perfection. There was some disappointment in the building of certain characters, like Cali's mother but only so much can be done in a 2 hour movie when the book was so meaty. For those who haven't read the book, it may take a couple of viewings to pick up on all the details of the story but this is a very good film and watching it over and over, shouldn't be a problem.

The Last Sin Eater.......2007-06-27

We enjoyed The Last Sin Eater. The sound was rather difficult to hear at times, especially during whispered conversations. This is a moving story of a young girl's search and discovery of faith in Christ.

Dark and disjointed.......2007-06-25

This movie is like a horror version of Little House on the Prairie.

Warning: Do not show this film to young or sensitive children, especially those who struggle with guilt, depression and suicidal thoughts. There are many scenes of death in this movie, and at least two where Cadi balances on a slippery log over a high chasm and contemplates suicide as the just consequence of her perceived guilt. For those who are prone to excessive guilt or depression, the movie will be very unpleasant at best and perhaps life-threatening at worst.

A great drama may include some very disturbing elements but will weave the seeds of a satisfying ending all through so that the ending, when it comes, feels natural and logical. By contrast, several plot twists in The Last Sin Eater, especially its ending seem pasted in, unnatural, and abrupt. Would all the adults of a village really abandon their pagan beliefs, shed their guilt, and turn from cruelty to kindness just because a girl informed them that they had it wrong? I believe in the saving power of Jesus, but even as a sympathetic viewer, I couldn't suspend my disbelief when a character changed abruptly for no apparent reason.

Therefore, the ending adds to the dark, sinister feeling of the movie instead of being redemptive as it is supposed to be. It's almost like the villagers turn into zombies or are controlled by some dark force pretending to be light.

I wonder if the plot disconnects were due to the director or the editor?

I want more films which reflect Christian values. But being a Christian doesn't make me into a movie-going Mikey (give it to Mikey, he'll eat anything!). I've been disappointed by several "Christian" movies in the past year. Give me movies which tell a great story and are well written, acted, directed, and produced.

I do give this movie two stars, not one. I liked the acting by the children, particularly Liana Liberato as Cadi Forbes and Soren Fulton as Fagan Kai. Thea Rose as Lilybet was appropriately angelic, but would have been much more interesting if her character had been developed some more. As it was, she was a cute messenger girl for God, little else. That's not her fault, of course.

I also liked the cinematography, which richly conveyed the beautiful location and simple lifestyle of the residents.

Average customer rating:

Back in the day movies!
Throw Caution to the Wind!!!
One of a few chick flick movies on my shelf
john cusack, what a sweetheart! always lovable & funny...
John Cusack

Serendipity
Starring: Kate Beckinsale , John Corbett , John Cusack , Jeremy Piven , and Molly Shannon
Director: Peter Chelsom
Manufacturer: Miramax Home Entertainment
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ASIN: B00003CY6M
Release Date: 2002-04-09

Amazon.com

The irresistible casting of John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale highlights this predictable romantic comedy, which combines the romantic yearning of An Affair to Remember and the New York charm of You've Got Mail. It all begins "a few years ago," when New Yorker Jonathan (Cusack) meets Brit beauty Sara (Beckinsale). They share a few perfect hours together before parting ways, leaving future encounters to her quirky obsession with fate. "A few years later," they're about to marry their respective fiancés (reluctantly, of course), and urgently hoping for destiny to bring them back together. Under the casual direction of Peter Chelsom (barely recovering from Town & Country), this starry-eyed romance offers no surprises, but it has a comforting familiarity, made warmer by the easy chemistry of the leads, with obligatory best-friend support by Molly Shannon and long-time Cusack pal Jeremy Piven. It's hokey, but die-hard romantics are sure to be forgiving. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Irresistible stars John Cusack (AMERICA'S SWEETHEARTS, HIGH FIDELITY) and Kate Beckinsale (PEARL HARBOR, BROKEDOWN PALACE) are drawn together and take a chance on love in this critically acclaimed romantic comedy! In the course of one magical evening, Jonathan (Cusack) and Sara (Beckinsale) meet unexpectedly ... then part without expectation when she decides they must let fate determine if they are meant to be together. Years later, they are both engaged to others but cannot give up the dream that -- despite time, distance, and the obstacles that conspire to keep them apart -- they will one day meet again. Also starring Jeremy Piven (THE FAMILY MAN, VERY BAD THINGS) and Molly Shannon (SUPERSTAR, NEVER BEEN KISSED) in a stellar supporting cast -- you're destined to agree with audiences everywhere who fell for the surprising charms of this delightful big-screen romance!

Customer Reviews:

Back in the day movies!.......2007-06-18

I love this movie its a great love story that deep down would happen to all of us! C'mon guys Kate Beckinsdale shes hot!!!!!

Throw Caution to the Wind!!!.......2007-06-13

Theatrical Release Date Oct. 5, 2001
DVD Release Date April 9, 2002. (91 Minutes)
Director: Peter Chelsom
Writer(s): Marc Klein

The Casting of John Cusack(Jonathan) and Kate Beckinsale(Sara) is Perfect!!

A Wonderful Romantic Comedy between Two New Yorkers in New York City who spend a couple of Magical Hours together. To Test Fate, Sara writes her Phone number on a (Used Book Title: Love in the Time of Cholera), Which Sara sells the next day at a Used Book Store.

Jonathan writes his Phone Number on the backside of a Five Dollar Bill in a Pink Marker Color!! Then, Sara uses the currency to purchase a Candy from a street vendor that Night allowing Fate to determine if they are meant to be Together!!

They are suppported by a Wonderful Cast. You will see many familiar faces once you watch the Movie.
Some of the Supporting Cast includes: Jeremy Piven(Jonathan's BestFriend), Molly Shannon(Sara's BestFriend), John Corbett(Sara's Fiance), Bridget Moynahan(Jonathan's Fiancee) and Eugene Levy(Retail Sales Associate) to mention a few.

The Movie gives HOPE to Single people seeking the "ONE". Serendipity also addresses Couples that need to lite their Fires Again!!!

The Movie implies that "By Throwing Caution to the Wind, You are allowing Fate to Decide your path in Life." This practice of Understanding will make you more aware that "Once Doors Closed Windows will Open."

This Movie enforces my thoughts of "Forget the Past and Future, Live the Present Moment!! You can only enjoy this Second of Time!!

Remember that their are Windows and Clues all around us but one must look and believe!!!

Enjoy the Movie and Relax!!!

One of a few chick flick movies on my shelf.......2007-04-03

CD quality is good. No any scratch on CD. Shipped fast with Super saving option.

john cusack, what a sweetheart! always lovable & funny..........2007-03-21

i saw this movie for the first time this past christmas and i just loved it!
very sweet, funny, loving movie...
if you are the type of person who loves john cusack or just love a light-hearted, romantic, comedy, this is a great one to own.
now, i found this movie extra funny because i could relate to "sarah", i remember "once upon a time" i believed in "the signs" or i was always "waiting for the signs" and that use to drive my friends crazy!
BECAUSE they believed in taking chances and going with the flow of life vs. analyzing it.
so, i totally enjoyed this movie, it brought me back to the wonderful memories i have...

John Cusack .......2007-02-19

This is such a great movie. It keeps you guessing until the end.

The Breakfast Club (High School Reunion Collection)

Average customer rating:

A well-structured film
The John Hughes universe
Intense.
How come every teen movie not made in the 80s stinks
Were you ever in detention?

The Breakfast Club (High School Reunion Collection)
Starring: Mary Christian , Perry Crawford , Ron Dean , Emilio Estevez , and Tim Gamble
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0000A98ZP
Release Date: 2003-09-02

Amazon.com essential video

John Hughes's popular 1985 teen drama finds a diverse group of high school students--a jock (Emilio Estevez), a metalhead (Judd Nelson), a weirdo (Ally Sheedy), a princess (Molly Ringwald), and a nerd (Anthony Michael Hall)--sharing a Saturday in detention at their high school for one minor infraction or another. Over the course of a day, they talk through the social barriers that ordinarily keep them apart, and new alliances are born, though not without a lot of pain first. Hughes (Sixteen Candles), who wrote and directed, is heavy on dialogue but he also thoughtfully refreshes the look of the film every few minutes with different settings and original viewpoints on action. The movie deals with such fundamentals as the human tendency toward bias and hurting the weak, and because the characters are caught somewhere between childhood and adulthood, it's easy to get emotionally involved in hope for their redemption. Preteen and teenage kids love this film, incidentally. The DVD release includes production notes, cast and crew bios, widescreen presentation, Dolby sound, closed captioning, optional French and Spanish soundtracks, and optional Spanish subtitles. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

A well-structured film.......2007-07-09

Imagine being a teenager in high school,and having to spend an entire Saturday in detention. For most high school students,it is an avoided nightmare.

But,in "The Breakfast Club",it is a matter of reality for five high school students. Those high school students are Andrew Clark (Emilio Estevez),Brian Johnson (Anthony Michael Hall),John Bender (Judd Nelson),Claire Standish (Molly Ringwald),and Allison Reynolds (Ally Sheedy). Andrew Clark,Brian Johnson,John Bender,Claire Standish,and Allison Reynolds don't even know each other. This is a negative sign for all five of them being able to get through their detention and most of their day easily. To make matters worse? The principal who has given them their detentions,Richard Vernon(the late Paul Gleason--RIP)is as strict as he is arrogant. Principal Richard Vernon(who Matt Groening modeled Principal Skinner off of)is not going to make the day easy for anybody--no matter what.

Andrew Clark,Brian Johnson,John Bender,Claire Standish and Allison Reynolds are not happy with the consequences that have been laid down upon them. As a result,before all five of them and Principal Richard Vernon know it,it will be a long day.

"The Breakfast Club" is one of the most well-written films ever made and released. What makes it work so well? The plot is good,while the script does a good job at taking the plot and bringing it to life with its setting and events. "The Breakfast Club" successfully takes a fair and appropriate amount and mixture of comedy,drama,and emotion,and blends the three together appropriately and fittingly,step by step. The beauty? The comedy is some of the best comedy you will ever come across in a film,while the drama and emotion are some of the darkest things you will ever come across in a film. Sure,this sounds far-fetched. But,in "The Breakfast Club",director John Hughes allows this formula to work,while making sure that nothing overlaps. All of this,alongside the 80's fashion and the music that is too be found here,helps "The Breakfast Club" fully come together and be the good film that it is,aided by talened actors and actresses,as well as strong acting.

Considering the fact that "The Breakfast Club" was released in 1985,you won't get the good bonus feautures here that you would get on a DVD for a recent film that has just been released to DVD. But,the production notes on "The Breakfast Club" that this DVD feautures give one a good behind-the-scenes look into the making of the film. The notes on Emilio Estevez,Anthony Michael Hall,Judd Nelson,Molly Ringwald,Ally Sheedy,and Paul Gleason are wortwhile,as they give one good information and knowledge on the careers and lives of Estevez,Hall,Nelson,Ringwald,Sheedy,and Gleason.

If you enjoyed both high school and the 1980's,"The Breakfast Club" is the film to watch. It serves as a nice trip down memory lane and nostalgia. It is a nice to have a film that has such a strong grasp of comedy,drama,and emotion,as well as fashion,and tackles them all successfully in one entire film.

The John Hughes universe.......2007-06-13

Many who were teenagers in the 80s see Breakfast Club the way some saw Rebel Without A Cause in the 50s. Both movies are about teenage angst. Most of my "grasshopper" (Kung Fu) moments in my life came from the 80s. That said, this film has it's merits but also it's flaws. One actor makes this movie great. Judd Nelson. He steals the show in every scene. Even when he isn't talking, you are watching his reactions. His performance is perfect. I believe him as a troubled teen even though he's 24(!) at the time of the filming. Another great performance, often overlooked, is Paul Gleason as Vernon. He's dislikeable and believable. Makes you wonder if Vernon was like Brian and who grew up to be authority to get 'even' with guys like Bender and Andy. Just an idea. Gleason's performance is a solid one.
The flaws include the slang (no one then or now calls rich kids "richies". They are either preppies or yuppies.), the inane stories (Andy's locker room story and Brian's flare gun story fail to hold my attention), the fake performances (Brain's forced tears when he says to Clare "&*%$ you") and the continuity shots (Clare and Allison's many hair days during 8 hour detention). The script could've used some fine tuning. Had it been written better, the five students would know each other more even if they aren't friends. The character stereotypes (brain, princess, criminal, jock, and basket case) would mesh with each other. In order words, the five would have more in common with each other instead of coming from five different cliques. Lastly, the term "Breakfast Club" never appeared anywhere until John Hughes coined the phrase. He uses the phrase as if everyone who is in detention is a Breakfast Club member. I would title it something else. A good script doctor would be helpful.
In my opinion, the movie doesn't hold up well today, but it is still entertaining, given it's context. This is the John Hughes universe we are talking about, not the real world.

Intense........2007-04-15

This is an aboslutely amazing movie. Being a teenager, you can really relate to this movie. But adults no doubt can too from their highschool days. You will laugh and maybe cry. The story behind it is truly beautiful. 5 stereotype highschool students end up in detention together and discover after pouring their hearts our to each other, that they have much more in common then they thought. "They only met once, but it changed their lives forever."

How come every teen movie not made in the 80s stinks.......2007-03-26

When I first heard of bfc I don't think I even wanted to see it. Then I saw Ferris Bueller's Day Off and one thing led to another. Anyways the point is, this movie is actually fun to watch. All five of these characters are surprisingly believable and not to mention funny. Though this movie is usually considered a "chick flick" I have no problem watching it. Otherwise, besides certian immoral content in the film, that i try to skip anyways, this movie is great! I'm amused by the scenario the characters are put in. I can actually relate to Brian(the nerd). Its kind of scary though, cause he shares my name. As for the rest characters, they just made me laugh to no end. The basket case I found particularly cool. I won't comment on the emotional aspect of the film, but I will say I felt it and just leave it at that. Oh and as a 17 year old, trust me, its great to see teens actually act like teens!!!!! Now a days it seems most teen flicks are bassically movies about sex crazed monsters(no ones REALLY like that). AND IT'S NOT FUNNY, its just kind of grose. So in conclusion, this movie was actually to my surprise good.The BEST PART is when there all dancing to We Are Not Alone by Karla Devito. I never thought in a million years I would like a movie where some jock started crying about how he tapped some kid's bun cheeks together.

P.S. No seriously though, what was up with that bun cheek thing?

Were you ever in detention? .......2007-03-14

I was a good little girl at school; I was never in detention. So I can't identify with this movie at all. Especially an American detention. They were there the whole of Saturday! And the antics they get up to!

I got recommended this by someone I work with, who was playing the Simple Minds on her mp3 player, and I confessed I had no idea who they were. She said they did a song on the soundtrack to this, I said I'd never seen it, and she told me to get it. So I did.

None of the actors have really done much since this film, apart from Emilio Estevez, who is still floating around out there. There's been lots of fuss about a sequel, but I doubt that will ever happen. It doesn't really warrant a sequel. Which means they will make a sequel or a remake. And that will ruin it.

Basically you have five teenage stereotypes - the rebel (Bender), the princess (Claire), the jock (Andy), the brain (Brian), and the outcast (Allison) - who would never normally associate with each other, but they get stuck together in detention. It can be a bit overacted, and a bit melodramatic at times, but yes, it works. My favourite character was the outcast, Allison, played by Ally Sheedy. She actually reminded me quite a lot of myself during high school (and at the beginning of college), hiding behind her fringe, coat, whatever comes to hand, and not speaking to anyone. Her haircut was practically the same as mine too! And the dandruff/snow on the drawing scene was absolutely classic! The reasons they all get into detention are a bit strange as well: Bender: pulls a false fire alarm; Brian: flare gun goes off in his locker; Andy: tapes a guy's butt cheeks together in the locker room; Claire: ditches class to go shopping; and Allison: didn't do anything, she didn't have anything better to do on a Saturday. (That last bit made the character for me.)

The rest of the movie is pretty much forgettable, apart from the dancing sequence, which is so funny.

If you recognise yourself in these characters, or know someone else who was that particular stereotype, then I would recommend getting it. It's easy enough to while away an hour or so watching. It will also show what you're really like depending which character is your favourite. What does your favourite reveal about you? It's a shame I'm not old enough to remember the 80s (ha!) I was born halfway through, and wasn't old enough to know about the whole Rat Pack phenomenon. But if you can pick this up for cheap, I certainly would recommend it.

Sixteen Candles (High School Reunion Collection)

Average customer rating:

A flame from the 80's
Favorite movie
EXCELLENT 80'S TEEN MOVIE!
Sixteen Candles with Molly Ringwald
A Tremendously Enjoyable And Heartwarming Early 1980s' Classic.

Sixteen Candles (High School Reunion Collection)
Starring: Molly Ringwald , Justin Henry , Michael Schoeffling , Haviland Morris , and Gedde Watanabe
Director: John Hughes
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00008438T
Release Date: 2003-09-02

Amazon.com essential video

Molly Ringwald established herself as the teen queen of the '80s in this fresh comedy. The movie is a day in the life of Samantha, whose 16th birthday is turning out to be anything but sweet. All the traumas of teendom come down on one long day, which sees Samantha surrounded by dithery relatives, mooning over a high school hunk, and pursued by a sawed-off Lothario. Sixteen Candles marked the directing debut of John Hughes, and its goofy energy displayed a promising talent with a great ear for high school lingo ... a promise neglected since Hughes became, after Home Alone, a one-man entertainment industry. There are some pretty crass moments (Why the stereotype of the foreign-exchange student from Asia?), but Ringwald's steady appeal smoothes over the rough spots. As the pubescent, self-styled lady-killer, Anthony Michael Hall turns in a hilarious portrait of a young swinger; he and Ringwald would reteam with Hughes for The Breakfast Club, another key teen picture of the decade. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

A flame from the 80's.......2007-07-03

If you enjoyed the Brat Pack in the 80's, you will LOVE this movie as much as I do =)

Favorite movie.......2007-05-27

We had lost our copy of this movie and were so happy to get a new one. It is a great movie with laughs and tears.

EXCELLENT 80'S TEEN MOVIE!.......2007-04-11

This is one of my wife's favorite 80's teen movies. I am a fan, but it isn't as high on my list as hers. The film is very funny and Hall is hilarious as the geek. The DVD transfer is great and a worthy purchase.

Sixteen Candles with Molly Ringwald.......2007-04-11

This DVD was a gift and the recipient is very pleased.

Amazon's service was, as is the norm, just great. : )

A Tremendously Enjoyable And Heartwarming Early 1980s' Classic........2007-03-05

Though it often goes under the radar due to the enormous popularity of the similarly themed follow-up "The Breakfast Club", "Sixteen Candles" is just as good as its more volatile counterpart, representing a far more innocent but just as enjoyable representation of those awakward years we all go through.

Molly Ringwald plays Samantha Baker, a small town teenager anxiously awaiting her sixteenth birthday. Much to her disappointment, the overly obsessive detail gone into her older sister's wedding has made her birthday an oblivious occasion to the rest of her family. To make maters more complicated, Samantha is already going through many pubescent emotions, including a crush on the one boy she can't get to, Jake Ryan (Mike Schoeffling), who's under the grip of a blonde bimbo that he just can't seem to break. Even worse, the biggest nerd in school (a scene stealing Anthony Michael Hall), is desparate to win Samantha's affections, despite her having no interest in him wahtsoever.

This leads up to a tocuhing, funny and adorable conclusion. "Sixteen Candles" is a film that will delight all film viewrs, and is a film many people going through the period of life represented in the film can relate to. I recommend to all fans of 1980s' teen flicks as well as film in general.

Average customer rating:

Perhaps the Best Native American Movie
Very funny, in a Napoleanic way
Very charming
Put this in your pipe and smoke it
Good, but flawed

Smoke Signals
Starring: Adam Beach , Evan Adams , Irene Bedard , Gary Farmer , and Tantoo Cardinal
Director: Chris Eyre
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: 6305428417
Release Date: 1999-09-28

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Based on a couple of short stories (from The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven) by Sherman Alexie, Smoke Signals is a lean and a